UGA Beat Writer

LSU, held without a first down against Georgia in the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship game in 2011, has the third-most first downs in the conference heading into Saturday’s game in Athens.

This is the first time Georgia and LSU have played since the title game won by the Tigers 42-10 after a second-half onslaught.

“I think it’s really different teams,” LSU coach Les Miles said Monday. “I think there’s an ability to handle and do the things that this team does maybe a little bit more effectively than that team.”

Five starters from that game will play for Georgia on Saturday — quarterback Aaron Murray, offensive linemen Chris Burnette and Kenarious Gates, defensive lineman Garrison Smith and linebacker Amarlo Herrera.

LSU, which lost 11 underclassmen to the NFL draft, has one starter from the game still active — receiver Odell Beckham.

“I think our players are as talented as we’ve ever had,” Miles said. “I think there’s a maturity that needs to take place so that they can play with their cleats headed north and south, ready to take a tackle, show the style of confidence, if you will, that other defenses that have played in this uniform have shown. I think that’s coming.”